Machines for packing containers in cases



Dec. 9, 1958 Filed Aug. 15, 1955 FIG-.l

K. B. HOLSTEBROE ETA].

MACHINES FOR PACKING CONTAINERS IN CASES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS KAYEB- HOLS'TEBROE ATTOR NEYS Dec. 9, 1958 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ETAL 2,363,268

' MACHINES FOR PACKING CONTAINERS IN CASES LEANDER H- LIPPINCO'T'T 5 BYW W AT TOR N EYS Dec. 9, 1958 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ET AL MACHINES FORPACKING CONTAINERS ,IN CASES Filed Aug. 15, 1955 F' I C5- 3 6Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOFZS HOLSTEBROE ATTORNEYS B. DER H. LIPPINCOT'T'Dec. 9, 1958 K. B. HOLSTEBROE ETAL 2,863,268

MACHINES FOR PACKING CONTAINERS IN CASES Filed Aug. 15, 1955 aSheets-Sheet 4 I l l f lIIIIlll/llpll/ IIIIIIA VIIIIIIIA'IIII/ INV RSKAYE B- HOLSTEBROE ATTOQNEIYS 2,863,268 MACHINES FOR PACKINGCONTAINERSIN CASES Filed Aug. 15, 1955 FlGJIB De. 9; 1958 K. 'B. HOLSTEBROE ETAL sSheet-Sheet a INVENTOFZS B- KAYEI HOLST'EBROE.

LEANDER H- L :IPPI NCO'TT M'FW BY 1 QJ'TORNEYS United States MACHINESFOR PACKING CONTAINERS IN CASES Application August 15, 1955, Serial No.528,465 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-62.)

This invention relates to improvements in machines for packingcontainers in cases for shipment, storage or other purpose and moreparticularly to improvements in packing machines of the type that isoperable to form the containers to be packed in successive case chargesor load-groups at one level and to lower each such charge or load-groupinto a waiting case positioned at a lower level.

While not limited thereto, the improved packing machine of the presentinvention is particularly adapted to form and pack into cases charges orload-groups of flattopped containers which are square or rectangular incross-sectional configuration and are substantially uniform incross-section from their bottoms to their tops.

An example of containers of the kind referred to is the fiat top, fiber,milk carton. These are made in different sizes and different numbers ofthe individual containers, packed closely together, may be required tofill the cases in which they are to be packed. Thus, quartsize suchcontainers may be packed in a case in four parallel rows, each rowcontaining 4, or 6 containers or a total of 16, 20 or 24 containers. Inthis arrangement, adjacent containers are in close order formation,being in side-to-side contact both in the same row and in adjacent rows.Larger size milk containers, as the half-gallon size, may be packed intheir case in four parallel rows but with fewer containers in each row,as 3 or a multiple thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide automatic machinery operable toassemble containers of the kind described into successive case-chargesor load-groups and to pack such charges or load-groups into their casesat a high rate, as in the order of 240 quart-size such containers perminute.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide means fortemporarily undersuppo-rting the containers ofeach of successive chargesor load-groups as formed so that such charge or load-group can begripped by novel gripping means of a vertically movable loweringmechanism and lowered as an entity into a waiting case by a downwardstroke of that mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention hereinafter will bepointed out or will be apparent from the following description of apractical embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the novel packing machine,showing its charge-lowering mechanism in a raised position above acharge-forming area in which containers for a charge are being advancedin four rows by the line pressure of oncoming containers on an infeed orsupply conveyor;

Fig. 2 is a relatively reduced front view of the packing machine;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of such machine;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal, vertical sectional view of aportion of the machine, with elements shown in elevation, the viewshowing the relationship of the eleatom ments of this portion of themachine at an early stage in the assembly of a complete charge, at whichtime an empty case is moving toward and a loaded. preceding case isbeing moved away from the case loading station;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 at a later stage ina cycle ofoperations, the view showing the empty case in position at the loadingstation and a complete charge assembled just before start of itsdownward movement;

Fig. 6 is a view like each of Figs. 4 and 5 but at a still later stagein a cycle of operations, the charge of containers being in the courseof being lowered through a lowered funnel into the waiting case;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a novel dead plate over which containersare forced by line pressure fromthe supply or infeed conveyor into thecharge forming part of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a relatively enlarged section substantially along the line of88 of Fig. 3, showing the manner in which the inner longitudinal rows ofcontainers of a charge are temporarily undersupported so as to bepositioned at a higher level than the containers of the outerlongitudinal rows of the charge;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the packing machine;

Fig. 10 is a diagram of electrical control and wiring means foroperating parts of the machine as shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section along the line 11-11 of Fig. 2, showingthe charge funnel and certain asso-v ciate elements;

Fig. 12 is a partial side elevation showing driving and timing elementsof a mechanical control system of a modified form of the machine, theview also showing the charge lowering mechanism and a portion of thepacking case conveyor;

Fig. 13 is a partial top view of the driving and timing elements of thecontrol mechanism shown. in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13;and

Fig. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line 1515 of Fig.12, showing a conveyor clutch mechanism that is included in this form ofthe machine.

The framework structure of our packing machine may comprise a table orplatform 1, Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and 9, supported at a desirableheight above a factory floor 2, Fig. 3, by legs 3, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, orin any other suitable known manner.

Table 1 may be substantially rectangular in plan, Fig. 9, and beprovided with an opening 4 of suitable size and shape to permit a chargeor load-group of the containers to be packed to be lowered therethroughas will hereinafter he explained. Opening 4 may be rectangular as shownin Fig. 9.

A horizontal infeed or supply conveyor 5, Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, and9, is provided to bring containers 6 to be packed to a dead plate 7. Seealso Figs. 1 and 7, the latter of which shows the dead plate detachedand alone. Conveyor 5 is the upper stretch of a flexible belt 5a whichis trained about a driving roll 8 on a transverse conveyor head shaft 9which is mounted in bearings 10- on transversely spaced brackets 11which are upstanding on the platform 1 adjacent to the rearward edge ofthe latter and rearwardly of the rear edge of the platform opening 4.See Fig. 9. The conveyor belt may be additionally supported by anysuitable known means (not shown). The arrangement is such that its upperstretch, constituting the conveyor 5, will be driven to advancecontainers thereon toward the dead plate 7 when the shaft 9 is rotatedcounterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive. The means forintermittently thus rotating the shaft 9 and its operation willhereinafter be described.

The dead plate 7, Fig. 7, is formed to provide a flat- Patented Dec. 9,1958 aseaass surfacedv relatively wide middle portion 12 extending fromthe rear edge 13 of the plate for substantially its entire fore-and-aftextent and a pair of oppositely extending co-planar lateral portions 14which extend from the rear edge 13 for only part of the fore-and-aftextent of the plate. The plate has relatively depressed, co-planarfiat-surfacedportions 1515 located in advance of the lateral portions1414 and at opposite sides of the middle portion 12. The front edgeportion 16 of the plate may be b'ent'downwardly and forwardly as shownand provided at regularly spaced intervals with rounded notches in itsedge, there being two of these notches indicated at 17--17 at the frontof each of the lower level plate portions 1 -1 5 and four of suchnotches, each indicated at 18, at the front of the higher level middleportion 12. Four'uniformly spaced apart forwardly and downwardlyextending guide fingers 19 are provided on the front edge portion of theplate, there being one of such. fingers at the front of eachof thelowerlevel plate portions -15 and two at the front of the higher level middleportion 12. Such guide fingers may be integral with these port-ions ofthe plate or separately formed strips secured by welding or other knownmeans (not shown) to the plate.

Plate 7 is provided with holes 263 for thereception of screws (notshown) or other suitable fastening elements by which the plate may bemounted on a support, as on the cross bar which is shown partly at 21 inFigs. 4 to 6, inclusive, in a desired position with respect to theconveyor 5. As shown best in Fig. 9, plate 7 is in close proximity tothe conveyor 5 at the container discharge end of the latter and, as isshown by Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, the higher level portions of the plateare at the same level as that of such conveyor. The front edge portionof the plate is approximately above the rear edge of opening 4 in theplatform 1 and the fingers 19 extend downwardly nearly to the plane ofthat opening.

The containers 6 are brought in four parallel longitudinally extendingrows by conveyor 5 to the dead plate 7 onto which they are pushed byline pressure from oncoming containers. The leading containers of thetwo outside longitudinal rows drop or step down slightly as they arepropelled on the dead plate from the higher level wing portions 1414onto the lower depressed portions 1515 of the dead plate while thecontainers of the inside longitudinal rows are maintained at therelatively higher level by the middle portion 12 of the dead plate.

From the dead plate, the leading containers of the two insidelongitudinal rows are advanced at the same relatively higher level ontohorizontal portions 22a of forwardly projecting supporting fingers 22fixed to a transversely disposed rock shaft 23 which is mounted inbearings in upstanding brackets, such as that shown at 24, Fig. 3, onplatform 1 so as to extend across the underside of the front edgeportion 16 of the dead plate 7. The fingers 22 are four in number intheexample shown and respectively extend through thenotches 18 in the frontedge portion of the dead plate. Other supporting fingers 25 projectforwardly from the rock shaft 23 through the notches 17 in the frontedge portion of the dead plate and have relatively lower level forwardlyprojecting horizontal portions 25a onto which containers are advancedfrom and at the level of the lower level portions 15-15 of the deadplate. There are four of the fingers 25 in the example shown, twoprojecting in advance of each of the portions 15 of the dead plate.

The assemblage of transverse rock shaft 23 and for wardly projectingfingers 22 and 25 constitutes the rear pivoted section, generallydesignated 26, of a two-part disappearing type trap door for temporarilyunder-supporting containers of the four rows passingover the dead plateas such containers are accumulated to form a case charge or load-groupwhich during its formation will be supported directly above the opening4 in the platform 1.

This trap door has a front section, generally designated 27, comprisinga transverse rock shaft 28 supported in hearings in upstandingtransversely spaced brackets 29 located on platform 1 in advance ofplatform opening 4, rearwardly extending fingers 3t) fixed to the rockshaft and having horizontal portions 36a at the same level as and inline with the portions 22a of the rear door section fingers, and otherfingers 31 also fixed to the rock shaft and having horizontal portions31a at the same lower level as and in line with horizontal portions 25aof the rear door section fingers 26. When these door section fingers arein their raised, charge supporting positions as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4and 5, the free, adjacent ends of aligned fingers of the two doorsections maybe kept exactly aligned for smooth travel of containersthereover, as by providing a fixed lug 32, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, on theunderside of one of each two aligned fingers in position to projectbeyond the end thereof in under-supporting contact with the end portionof the aligned finger.

Containers 6 pushed onto the raised sections of the charge supportingtrap door may be restrained against deviation from straight forwardpaths of movement by sideboards 33. These may be plates made of sheetmetal or other suitable material fixed at their lower portions to theinner sides of parallel side members 34 of a hori zontally disposedrectangular funnel rim frame 35 which is mounted by means presently tobe described for limited vertical movements above and in centeredrelation with the opening 4 in platform 1. The containers of a chargeconsisting of four rows may thus be kept in close order formation as thecharge is formed on the raised sections of the supporting trap door inthe example shown.

Just before the leading containers of the several longitudinal rows ofthe charge arrive at their fully advanced positions on the supportingtrap door, they will strike forwardly movable full row detectors 36which then are in their normal positions in the paths of containers asshown in Figs. 1 and 4. There is one such detector for each longitudinalrow of the charge. See Fig. 1. Each detector thus struck will be pushedslightly forward to the position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. When alldetectors have been thus moved, a cycle of operations for the loading ofthe charge into a case will be initiated as hereinafter will beexplained.

in the example shown, each detector.36 is a substantially vertical flatstrip formed integrally with or otherwise fixed to the rearwardly turnedend portion 37a of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined arm 37 of a lever33 which is loose on a transverse shaft 39 that is mounted at its endsin portions of the transversely spaced bracket arms 29 on theplatform 1. Each lever 38 has a short forwardly projecting armMiextending at an approximate right angle with the lever arm 37 so as tobe in line with and engage frictionally with the end of a rearwardlyextending short stop arm 41 on a transversely extending.

rod 42 which is carried by a pair of transversely. spaced downwardlyextending rocker arms 43 on a transversely extending rock shaft 44 whichis mounted at its ends in portions of the bracket arms 29. See Figs. 1,2 and 4. A rigid finger 45, Figs. land 2, fixed to and projectinglaterally from a vertical rock shaft 46 that is mounted in.

the platform 1 continuously exerts rearward pressure against the frontside of transverse rod 42. This pressure will be ineffective to move therod 42 rearwardly about the axis of rock shaft 44 from the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 4 as long as the short forwardly extending engagedposition of the same arm in each of Figs. 5 and 6. Such counterclockwiseswinging movement of a'detector lever will be stopped by the contact ofa forwardly projecting striker element 47 on the end portion 37a oflever arm 37 with the end of a short fixed rearwardly projecting rockerelement 43 on the rock shaft 28 by which the supporting fingers of thefront trap door 27 are carried. Compare the relative positions ofelements 47 and 48 in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. A slight furthercounterclockwise swiging movement of the detector levers 38 to relieveany residual line pressures on the containers of the severallongitudinal rows of a segregated charge may take place when the rockshaft 28 has been rotated clockwise by means hereinafter to bedescribedto lower the fingers of the front trap door section 27 fromtheir raised positions as shown in Fig. 5 to lowered positions as shownin Fig. 6 as this will also swing the elements 48 out of latchingengagement with their cooperative elements 47, as from the positionshown in Fig. 5 for one of the elements 48 to the position of the sameelement as shown in Fig. 6.

A case conveying system 49, which are shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive,is provided to bring successive leading cases of a continuous line ofempty cases 50 from a supply source along a horizontal path to a caseloading station L. S. which is located directly beneath the opening 4 inplatform 1 as best seen in Fig. 5. On arriving at this station, each ofsuccessive leading empty cases of the line and the oncoming cases backof it will be temporarily halted by a fixed stop 51 which projects fromone side of the path of movement of the line of cases into such path toa sufficient extent to be struck by the leading vertical wall of theleading case over an area located near the adjacent front corner portionof that case. Just before arriving at the loading station, each leadingcase 50 will strike a pivoted case detector 52 which will be actuated bythe final movement of such case to the loading station to act throughsuitable motion transmitting connections, not shown, to close a normallyopen case detector switch 53, Fig. 10, of the electrical controlmechanism of the form of machine of Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive. When acase at the loading station has been loaded with a charge of thecontainers 6 as hereinafter will be explained, a case kicker element 54on the extremity of a piston rod 55 of an air motor 56, Fig. 2, will beprojected forcibly against the adjacent side of the loaded case so as toimpel it laterally on the conveyor system clear of the fixed stop 51 andpivoted case detector 52 so that the loaded case will be advanced beyondthe loading station, as in the case of the loaded case indicated at 50ain Fig. 4. The oncoming line of empty cases will be moved forward at thesame time and the next empty case in line back of the loaded case willbe advanced toward the loading station.

The case conveying means, the switch operating case detector and theloaded case kicker means as just described are substantially the same asthose which are shown and described in our co-pending application,Serial No. 466,558, filed November 3, 1954, for Machines for PackingArticles in Cases, now Patent No. 2,815,623.

The means for depositing a charge of the containers 6 in a waiting caseat the loading station comprises a vertically movable charge gripperhead generally indicated at 57, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Gripper head 57comprises a frame 58 which generally is of inverted U-shape and consistsof a pair of spaced parallel front and rear vertical plate members 5811and 5812 respectively, connected together at their upper ends by a flat,head plate member 58c, all as best seen in Fig. 1. Head plate member 580is secured by a floating connecting means 59 to the lower end' of apiston rod 60 which extends downwardly from the lower end of avertically disposed air cylinder 61 which is mounted on an elevatedstationary, horizontal supporting plate 62. Plate 62 is supported at thedesired height and in the desired position above the openfragmentaryportions of ing 4 in the platform 1 by a pair of transversely spacedposts 63 and a pair of more rearwardly located trans-- versely spacedposts 64, all uprising .from the platform 1 and to which the plate 62 isattached by welding or in any other suitable known manner.

The gripper head frame front and rear vertical plates have alignedbearings, such as those indicated at 65 and 66, respectively, Figs. 1and 3, in their lower portions and longitudinally extending gripperfinger rock shafts 67, 68, 69, and 70, Figs. 1 and 2, are journalled inthese aligned bearings and may be sufiiciently long to project fromtheir bearings at the front and rear of these plates as shown for therock shaft 67 in Figs. 1 and 3. The containers 6 have grooves 71extending around their vertical walls near the tops of such containers.The two inner gripper rock shafts, 68 and 69, respectively, are locatedequidistant from a longitudinal, vertical plane containing thelongitudinal center line of the gripper head frame. See Figs. 2 and 8.These rock shafts carry downwardly extending gripper means operable toengage the grooved outer sides of the upper end portions of therelatively higher containers 6 of the two inner longitudinal rows of acharge to clamp the containers of each such row firmly against thecontainers of the other row. The two outer gripper rock shafts, 67 and70, respectively, are located equidistant from the adjacent innergripper rock shafts and carry downwardly extending gripper meansoperable in unison with each other and with the gripper members on theinner gripper rock shafts to engage the grooved outer sides of the upperend portions of the containers of the two outer longitudinal rows of thecharge to clamp the containers of the outer rows firmly against thecontainers of the inner rows. In the gripper mechanism shown, thegripper means carried by the right hand inner rock shaft, 68, as viewedin Figs. 2 and 8, their upper ends to such rock shaft as shown in Fig. 1and each provided at the inner side of its lower free extremity with aprojecting bead or rib 72R adapted to enter the groove in the outer sideof the upper end portion of the corresponding container of the righthand inner row of the charge. The left hand inner gripper rock shaft,69, has similar gripper fingers 71L each pro vided with a similar beador rib 72L at the inner side of its free end. The right hand outergripper rock shaft, 67, has slightly longer gripper fingers 73R eachprovided with a head or rib 74R on the inner side of its lower, freeextremity. The left hand outer gripper shaft, 70, has

similar gripper fingers 73L, each provided with a groove entering beador rib 74L. The gripper fingers may be provided on their inner sideswith projections 75 fixed thereto only a slight distance above theircontainer engaging beads or ribs. If the containers engaged by suchfingers, or some of such containers, should be frictionally" engaged bya wall of the charge funnel or other relatively stationary surface whilethe charge is being lowered by the grippers as presently will bedescribed, the projections 75 will be struck by any containers tendingto stick while the grippers continue to move downward and will overcomesuch sticking.

It is obvious that the number of gripper fingers carried by a gripperrock shaft may be selected according to the number of containers in alongitudinal row of a charge to be engaged by such fingers and that, ifdesired, the gripping means carried by a rock shaft may be provided as asingle gripper member for engaging all the containers of a row.

An operating mechanism is provided to turnthe gripper rock shaftssimultaneously about their respective axes so that one inner and oneouter rock shaft are turned in a direction the reverse of that of theother inner and other outer rock shaft. The operating mechanism showncomprises a vertically disposed air motor 76, Figs. 1, 2 and 3,preferably of a spring loaded diaphragm type, mounted on a shelf 77 onthe inner side of vertical gripper head 7. frame member A rod;78rdependingfrom a diaphra m 7 9 in the cylinder operatively connected'at its 19 ,er endat 80, Fig 2, to atrocker arm 81 on a; shortactuatingrock shaft 82 which is-operativelymounted in a bracket 83 onframemember 58b. Rockshaft 82 carries a pairof oppositelyextendingother-rocker arms indicatedatSA and; 85, respectively, Fig. 2.Arm 84 is. operativelyconnectedby a link 86 to the upper end of anupstandingrocker arm 87 on rock shaft 68. Rocker arm, 87isoperativelyconnected by a, link 8-8 with the upper .endofarockerarm'89which is upstanding on rockshaft 67. At the opposite side of actuatingrock shaft 82, arm 85:18 .operatively connected by a link 90 with theupperend-ofan upwardly extending rocker arm 91 on rock. shaft 69 androcker'arm 91'is operatively connected by a link 92 with the-upper endof an upwardly extendingrocker arm 93 lOIl lQCkl shaft 70. A spring 94in the cylinder 76 tends to retainthediaphragm 79 therein attheupperend-of its stroke so as to keep the gripper means in theiroutwardly swung,- disengaged positions. Cylinder 76.has.an airconnection, indicated at 95, so that air under pressure may beadmittedthereto at a suitable time inthecycle of the machine as hereinafterexplained, to effecta downward stroke of the-diaphragm 79 against theaction-of the spring 94 to cause the gripper means to swing tothei-rcontainer engaging positions.

The gripper head mechanism 57 is guided in its vertical, movements andis prevented from turning angularly abouttheaxis of the suspendingpiston rod 6%) by the rolling contact of upper grooved wheels 96 andlower grooved wheels 97 with the inner sides of the transversely alignedvertical supports 64, these grooved wheels be-' ing mounted on thegripper head frame to move therewith and so, that there is one uppergrooved wheel and one lower grooved wheel in rolling contact with eachof the relatively stationary vertical supports 64. See Figs. 1, 2 and3-. As best seen in Fig. 2, each upper wheel 96 is carried by anupwardly extending rigid arm 98 which may be formed as an integral partof the gripper frame head member 580 or formed separately and rigidlysecured thereto by welding or any other suitable fastening means, nonebeing shown. The lower wheels 97-are carried by arms 99 which extenddownwardly from and are rigid with the gripper frame head member 580.

Uprights 64 are tubular and each serves as a guide for verticallymovable rod 100 which extends therethrough. Each rod 100 has a laterallyextending rigid arm 101 fixed to its upper end. Each arm 101 overhangs astop element on the gripper frame head member and carries a dependingadjustable length rigid contact element 102 adapted to rest on that stopelement when the gripper head is in its raised position as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. As shown in these views, the upwardly extendingsupporting arms for the grooved wheels 96 serve also as the stopelements on which the contact elements 102 rest. The rods 100 are intheir raised positions in these, views.

Rods100 are connected to the charge funnel-rim frame 35 so that verticalmovements thereof are attended by like vertical movements of the funnel.The connection of eachrod is with aside member 34 of the funnel rimframe, as by a rigid fastening element 103, Figs. 3 and 11, fixed to. aportion of the rod so as to project from the inner side thereof througha vertical slot- 104 in the inner side of the upright 64 containing therod, and through a spacing plate 105' attached to the funnel rim sidemember, 34, such fastening element being secured to such adjacent member34. The funnel rim frame carries depending charge guiding funnel sidewall members 106 which are free at and may be slightly convergent towardtheir lower ends as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, and also spaceddepending front and rear funnel strips 106a, Fig. 11. Lowering of therods 100 as hereinafter explainedwill be attended by lowering of thefunnel from its raised position asshownin Figs. 1, 3, 4 and to a loweredposition at which the lower ends of the funnel wall members will extenddownwardly into the;upper-part of the waitingempty case atthe loading:station; as-shown in Fig. 6.

Theupper ends of the rods are connected, asxat 1917, Fig. 2 to thelowerends of vertically disposed coil from tension when the rods 106 areraised as shown in Fig. 2 and will yield sufliciently under the weightof the connected rods and charge funnel to permit these elements to movedownward as aunit by gravity when the gripper head descends until thearms 101 rest upon the upper ends of the tubular posts '64 and thefunnel depends into the waiting case. By that time suflicient tensionmay have been set up in the springs to dampen the final downward strokesof these parts so that they will be brought to a stop without harmfulshocks or jars.

An assembly of vertically movable charge funnel and connected verticalslide rods operable in response to vertical movements of the grippermechanism also is disclosed in .our aforesaid application, Serial No.466,558, filed November 3,1954.

Each of the side members 34 of the charge funnel rimframe isprovidedadjacent to its opposite ends with a pair of outwardly projecting pivotelements 111 as shown for one of these side members in Fig. 3. Links 112are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on thesepivot elements and arepivotally attached at their upper ends at 113 and 114;, respectively, torocker arms 115 and 116, respectively, onthe rear trap door section rockshaft 23 and the front trap, door section rock shaft 28, respectively.Downward movement of the funnel as permitted by a downward movement ofthe charge gripping mechanism will therefore cause the sections of thetrap door to swing downwardly from their raised charge supportingpositions as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, to their, openout-of-the-way positions at the front and rear, respectively, of thelowered funnel through which the charge may be lowered into the waitingcase at the loading station as shown in Fig. 6. The trap door sectionfingers swing downwardly in the funnel through gaps between adjacentdepending front and rear funnel strips 106a to out-of-the-way positionswithin the front and rear portions of the funnel frame 35 as shown inFig. 11. The return, upward movement of the funnel will be attended byreturn, upward swinging movements of the trap door sections.

The gripper head frame. carries a gate which may consist of a pluralityof transversely aligned'vertical rods 117 fixed to the rear gripper headframe member 58b, Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and 9. Descent of the gripperhead to lower a charge of containers through the lowered funnel into awaiting case willbe attendedby a lowering of this gate from a raisedposition above thepath of movement of containers from the dead plate 7onto the raised trap door sections to a lowered position such as toblock movement of containers forwardly from the dead plate. The gatewill be raised when the gripper head is raised.

As hereinbefore pointed out, actuation of the row detectors 36 byfilling of the longitudinal rows of a charge or load-group ofcontainers, will effect unblocking of the suspended cross bar 42 so thatit may be swung rearwardly from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 tothe position shown in Fig. 5 by the rigid finger 45, Fig. l. Thevertical shaft 46, Figs. 1 and 9, to which leaf spring 45 is fixed, willbe rocked counterclockwise so as to actuate a switch operating mechanism118, Fig. 9, so as to close a normally open switch 119, Figs. 9 and 10.Closing of switch 119 will effect closing of a normally open holdingrelay 120 and actuation of a solenoid valve 121, Fig. 10, which isoperatively connected with the spring-loaded diaphragm type air motor76, Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and 10. As shown in Fig. 10, switch 119 andthe coil of relay 120 will be connected electrically in series betweenelectricmains L2 and L1 when switch 119 is closed and the coil ofsolenoid valve 121 will be electrically connected with these mainsthrough the closed holding relay 120. The air motor 76 will now act toswing the gripper fingers to their container engaging positions so thatthe containers of the charge will be clamped to gether between co-actingrespectively right-hand and left-hand gripper fingers and thus will besuspended from the gripper head when the charge is without undersupport,as when the trap door sections 26 and 27 are swung downwardly.

A double throw switch 122, Figs. 9 and 10, has a switch bar 123 normallyin contact with a set of con tacts 122a but throwable out of contactwith these into contact with a second set of contacts 122k as is clearfrom Fig. 10. A mechanism for effecting this throwover of the switch baris indicated at 124 in Figs. 2 and 9 and includes a push rod 124aoperable by a rockable actuator 125 operable by the rock shaft 70, Fig.2, of the lever-and-linkage system for the gripper fingers. Thearrangement is such that the push rod 124a is moved to effect throwingof the switch bar 123 from the contacts 122a to the contacts 122]) ofswitch 122 when the gripper fingers are closed to grip the cartons ofthe charge.

Referring again to Fig. 10, it will be noted that one of the contacts122a of switch 122 is connected to one side of a normally open switch126, the other side of which is connected to main L2. The second contact122a is connected to one end of the coil of each of solenoid valves 127and 123 respectively. The opposite ends of the coils of these valves areconnected to main L1. Solenoid valve 127 is operatively associated withcase kicker air motor 56 which preferably is of a spring-loadeddiaphragm type. Solenoid valve 128 is operatively associated with aclutch air motor 129 which preferably also is of a spring-loadeddiaphragm type. Air motor 129 is shown in Fig. 9 as operativelyconnected to a shifter fork 130 for shifting a driven clutch part 131along shaft 9 relative to a continuously rotating driving clutch part132 on a motor-driven sleeve 133 which is loose on the shaft. Thearrangement is such that the clutch will be engaged and shaft 9 will berotated to drive the conveyor 5 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 9, whenthe air motor 129 is being operated by the solenoid valve 128.

The final part of the upward or return stroke of the charge loweringmechanism is utilized to effect closing of normally open switch 126. Asshown in Fig. 9, switch 126 is arranged to be closed by a horizontallyswingable switch actuating rocker arm 134 which projects from a verticalrock shaft 135 when the rock shaft is rocked counterclockwise about itsaxis to the extent required. To accomplish this, a cam strip 136, seeFig. 11, is mounted to move with the gripper head during the final partof its upward stroke and the initial part of its downward stroke so asto engage the free end portion of a rocker arm 137 projecting from therock shaft 135 as shown in Figs. 2 and 9 and to bias such armcounterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 9 to close the switch 126 as thegripper head completes its upward movement and to maintain it closed onthe initial part of the succeeding downward stroke of such head. In theexample shown, the cam strip 136 is on a side member 34 of the funnelframe, Fig. 11, which, as hereinbefore has been explained, is raisedduring the final part of the upward stroke and lowered during theinitial part of the downward stroke of the gripper head.

With the switch 126 closed and the switch bar 123 against the contacts122a of switch 122, as when the gripper head is up, the circuit forenergizing the coils of solenoid valves 127 and 128 will be complete.The case kicker head will be projected and the clutch controlling theoperation of the conveyor 5 will be engaged. When,- however, filling ofthe rows of a charge has resulted in closing of switch 119, closing ofthe grippers, and an operation of switch 122 to throw the bar 123 ofsuch switch from the contacts 122a to the contacts 122b, such circuitwill be broken. The clutch will be disengaged, the operation of conveyor5 will be interrupted, the case kicker head will be retracted and theswitch 53 will be closed by the action of an empty case as it moves to afilling position at the loading station as hereinbefore has beenexplained. Switch 53 is in series with the contacts 12% of switch 122 sothat a circuit will be completed to energize the coil of a solenoidvalve 138, Fig. 10. Solenoid valve 138 is operatively associated withthe gripper head cylinder 61 so that a downward stroke of such gripperhead will thus be initiated. The trap door sections will be swungdownwardly out of the way of the descending charge, the funnel will belowered to extend into the waiting case, and the suspended charge willbe lowered through the funnel into the underlying case.

A cam strip 139, Figs. 1, 2, is fixed to the gripper head frame inposition to engage the rocker arm 137, Fig. 9, when the gripper head isnear the end of its charge lowering stroke and to bias such rocker armclockwise as viewed in Fig. 9 so as to actuate switch actuator 134 firstto open a normally closed switch 140 and almost immediately thereafterclose a normally open switch 141. See also Fig. 10. As shown in thelatter view, opening of switch 140 will deenergize the holding relay 120so that the grippers will be opened, thereby releasing the containers ofthe charge to the enclosing case. Closing of switch 141 will complete acircuit through the coil of a solenoid valve 142 which is operativelyassociated with the gripper head air motor 61 so as to reverse thedirection of movement of the gripper head and start it on its upwardjourney. Switch 126 will again be closed in the manner and by meanshereinbefore described during the final part of the upstroke of thegripper head and, the switch 122 then being in its normal position withthe bar 123 against the contacts 122a, the coils of the solenoid valves127 and 128 for the case kicker and clutch operating air motors will beenergized to eflect ejection of the filled case from the loading stationand resumption of the container infeed movement of conveyor 5.Accumulation of containers on the raised trap door sections to form thenext charge will thus be commenced.

When the charge funnel descends from the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5to that shown in Fig. 6, the front end member 35a, of the funnel rimframe 35, will strike the free outer end of a temporarily raisedrearwardly extending reset rocker arm 44a on rock shaft 44 and will pushthat arm downward, thereby acting through such rock shaft and thedepending rocker arms. 43 to return the spring pressed cross member 42to its foremost latched-out position. Finger 45 will thereby be movedforwardly, turning the vertical rock shaft 46 clockwise, whereuponswitch 119, Figs. 9 and 10, will be reset in its normal open position.

The electrical controls for the air operated packing machine ashereinbefore particularly described may be dispensed with and amechanical control system provided instead, as in the modified form ofmachine shown by Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive.

In this form of the machine, the container infeed conveying meanscomprises a first horizontal conveyor and a second relatively shorthorizontal conveyor 151 in line therewith as shown in Fig. 12 togetherwith a driving mechanism for driving the first conveyor continuously andthe second conveyor intermittently. A dead plate 152 between conveyorsand 151 will support the con tainers as they are advanced from the firstconveyor to the second. The second conveyor will deliver containers ontothe dead plate 7 from which they will be forced by line pressure ontothe supporting fingers of the closed trap door sections beneath theraised gripper head mechanism 57 asin theform of-machinewhichalrea'dyrhas. been. described, herein.

The infeed conveyor drivingmechanism comprises a driveshaftlSIi-supported operatively in a'transversely'disposed relativelyelevated position Withrespect tothecon veyors by a suitable supportingframe. structure generally indicated at'154, Fig. 12. Shaft 153has adriven connection155 with a motor 156 which may he'mounted on the sameframe structure. Shaft 153 has a driving connection 157 with conveyor.so that the latter will be driven continuously in. the direction, toadvance the containers thereontoward conveyor 151 When the motor isoperating. A sleeve 158,..Fig; 15, which is loose on drive shaft 153 butconnectabletherev/ith by a.clutch mechanism 159, Figs. 12 and 15, has a,driving connection indicated generally at 160, Fig. 12, with conveyor151 so as to driverthe latter at the same. speed and in the samedirection as the. first conveyor 15% when the sleeve 158, is clutched tothe rotating drive shaft.

Conveyor clutch 159' is of conventional construction and mode ofoperation and comprises a clutch part 159:: rotating with the shaft 153and shiftable therealong by a shifter fork 161 into and out ofengagement. with a cooperative clutch part 15911 on sleeve 158. Shifterfork 161 is carried by one end of a leverv 162 which is inter mediatelypivoted at 163 on a bracket arm 164 on. a part of the frame structure154, the opposite end of the lever being operatively connected with theprojecting rod 165 of a conveyor clutch air motor 166 which corresponds,to the conveyor clutch motor 129 of the previously described form ofmachine.

A cam shaft 167 is operatively supported by the frame structure 154 inparallel relationto the drive, shaft 153 and, adjacent thereto. A row oftransversely aligned valves indicated at 168, 169, 179 and 171,respectively, Fig. 13, is supported in parallel relation to the camshaft at the opposite side of the latter from the drive shaft, as by asupporting cross frame member 172. These valves have axially movablestems 168a, 169a,,170a, and 171a, respectively, provided with connectedcam followers 173, 174, 175 and 176, respectively, arranged in operativeassociation with cams 177, 178, 179 and 180, respectively, which aremounted on the cam shaft 167 to rotate therewith. A driving connectionindicated generally at 181, Figs. 13 and 14, is provided between asleeve 182, Fig. 13, which is loose on the drive shaft 153, and the camshaft 167 to rotate the latter clockwise as viewed in Fig. 14 through180 each time the sleeve is operatively connected with the drive shaftso as to be rotated by the latter for a full revolution about the axisof the drive shaft. This connection may be effected by a normallydisengaged single revolution clutch. This, in the example shown,comprises a ratchet wheel 183 mounted on the drive shaft 153 adjacent toone end of sleeve 182 to rotate with the drive shaft, a pivoted pawl1.84 mounted on a projecting rigid arm 185 on the sleeve 182 andcontinuous ly urged by a spring 186, Fig. 14, to position to engage withthe first encountered tooth in the periphery of theratchet wheel butnormally latched out of such engagement by a pivoted pawl latch-out arm187 having a contact element 137a at its free end normally disposed inthe path of aprojecting lug 188 onthe back of the pawl 184-. Arm 187 maybe an armwofa bell, crank lever 189 mounted on'a supporting shaft 1%,such lever also including another arm, 191, at the side of the sh aft19% opposite the pawl and operatively connected to a downwardlyextending axially mo able rod 192 projecting from an air motor 193 whichis supported in a fixed position, as by supporting means 194, Fig. 12,on the framework structure 154. When air motor 193 is operated by airpressure, as presently explained, bell crank lever 189 will be operatedto swing the arm 187 thereof out of engagement with the lug 188 on thepawl to permit engagement of the latter with the ratchet wheel andconsequent rotation of the sleeve 182 through a full revolutionbeforefurther rotationthereof is'stopped' by thelatch-out arm 187'which' inthemeantime has been returned to. its: pawl engaging;

andlatching-out position. Rotation of the sleeve 182.in the oppositedirection, i. e., clockwise as viewed in Fig.

14, is prevented by the engagement of'a yielding, spring.

arm 196 so as to stop any reverse rotary motion of the sleeve.

Other valves and valve operating mechanisms are ineluded in themechanically controlled air. driven machine and will be pointed out inthe following descriptionof a' cycle of operationsof this form of thedevice.

Prior to starting-the machine, the dead plate 7 is preloaded withcontainers as in the case of the electrically controlled type ofmachine. Valve 170, Fig. 13, is normally open and. operatively connectedby conventional means (not shown) with the lower part of the grippermechanism air cylinder 61 so that the gripper head. 57 will be raised toits up position when the machine operating air has been turned on. rods1%, one of which is shown in Fig. 12, will be raised duringthe finalpart of the upstroke of the gripper head and each of these will actuatea spring-loaded pivoted bell crank lever, one of which is shown at 201in Fig. 12.

One of these bell crank levers will act through. suitablev motiontransmitting means, shownin part at 202, Figs; 13 and 14, to open theconveyor clutch air motortvalve 168 so that return of the gripper headto its raised position will be accompanied by a throwing in of theclutch 159. Starting of the motor 156 will then cause both.

conveyors and 151 to be driven to advance containers over the dead plate7 onto the raised two-section charge supporting trap door.

When the longitudinal rows of a charge have all been filled, the chargerow detectors 36 Willall have been actuated so as to elfe-ct unlatchingof the previously latchedout rearwardly swingable cross member 42, Fig.12, under the influence of its load-imposing finger 45. This. will causeraising of the rocker arm Me on rock shaft 44. The rocker arm 44a willstrike and open a normally closed air valve 203. Valve 283 is in serieswith an air valve 204, which is opened by a suitably-acting actuator 285when an empty case is brought by the conveyor system 49 to the loadingstation, Fig. 12, and with the air motor 193 for activating the singlerevolution cam shaft clutch. Thus, when both air valves 203 and 204 havebeen opened, air motor 193 will be operated andcam shaft 167 will berotated through 180. This rotary movement of the cam shaftand of thecams thereon will effect opening of normally closed spring'loaded valve169 which is operatively connected by means, not'shown, with. the.gripper cylinder 76, so that the grippers will be closed to grip thecontainers of the charge; also, actuation of valve 168 to. effecttie-clutching o-f the'conveyor clutch 159 to stop the intermittentlydriven conveyor 151 and actuation of the valve which controls gripperhead cylinder 61.so as to lower the gripper head and the charge ofcontainers suspended therefrom.

At the .end of. the lowering stroke of the gripper head, an actuator 206on. the frame of the gripper head will strike and actuate a pivotedvalve opening member 287 so as to open a normally closed valve 298 whichalso is operatively connected. to the single revolution clutch air motor193 so as to effect a second actuation of such clutch and a final halfrevolution of the cam shaft. This second half rotation of'the cam shaftand of the cams thereon will cause'actuation of valve 169 to effectopening of the grippers and release of the containers of the charge tothe underneath case and actuationof valve .170

The funnel connected.

to effect an upward stroke of the gripper head. When the gripper headreaches its raised position, the second of the rods 100 will haveactuated the second of the bell crank levers 201 to transmit motiontherefrom through linkage 209 to valve 171 so as to operate the casekicker air motor 56 to project the kicker head 54 against the adjacentside of the filled case so as to eject such case from the loadingstation.

It hereinbefore has been pointed out the actuation of the first of thebell crank levers 201 by its vertically movable rod 100 will actuate thevalve 168 so as to throw in the intermittent conveyor clutch 159. Whenthis hapa pens, the clutch shifting lever 162 will actuate linkageindicated at 214), Fig. 15, to open the normally closed air valve'171which is operatively connected to the case kicker cylinder so as toretract the case kicker and allow another empty case to come to aloading position.

Novel combinations and sub-combinations embodied in the forms of themachine shown in the drawings and hereinbefore particularly describedmay be included in still other forms. Thus, the machine may be adaptedto pack containers having gable or other projecting grippable topportions simply by substituting a gripper mechanism having a pair ofco-acting gripper members for each of the single gripper members of theillustrative machine and further substituting planar dead plate andtrap-door section fingers for those having the plural-level featuresrequired for the formation and handling of charges of flat topcontainers. Other changes in and modifications of the particularlydescribed embodiments of the invention will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art and we therefore do not wish to be limited to thedetails of such embodiments.

We claim:

1. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers or the like, astationary platform provided with a loading opening through which aload-group of the containers may be lowered, a trap door comprising aplurality of cooperative pivoted sections mounted to swing abouthorizontal axes between raised, approximately horizontal closedpositions above said loading opening, and lowered, approximatelyvertical open positions, said trap door being adapted to support saidload-group of containers thereon when its sections are in their raised,closed positions and to permit said load-group to be lowered between thesections thereof when said sections are in their lowered, openpositions, vertically movable means for gripping the load group ofcontainers on the trap door when the trap door sections are closed andfor lowering said load-group through the trap door when its sections areopen, means to present a case adapted to receive said load-group in aposition below and in line with said loading opening, a load-groupfunnel movable vertically in said loading ope11- ing between a raisedposition completely above said case and a lowered position with thelower end of the funnel depending in said case, and motion-transmittingmeans interconnecting said vertically movable load-group lowering means,said funnel and said trap door sections to cause said funnel and saidtrap door sections to be lowered during the initial part of eachdownward stroke of the lowering means and raised during the final partof each upward stroke thereof.

2. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers or the like, astationary platform provided with a loading opening through which aload-group of the containers may be lowered, a trap door comprising aplurality of cooperative pivoted sections mounted to swing abouthorizontal axes between raised, approximately horizontal closedpositions above said loading opening, and lowered, approximatelyvertical open positions, said trap door being adapted to support saidload-group of containers thereon when its sections are in their raised,closed positions and to permit said load-group to be lowered be tweenthe sections thereof when said sections are in their lowered, openpositions, vertically movable means for gripping the load-group ofcontainers on the trap door when the trap door sections are closed andfor lowering said load-group through the trap door when its sections areopen, means for feeding the containers in a plurality of parallel,adjacent rows onto the raised trap door sections, and a gatecarried bysaid load-group lowering means so as to be lowered by a downstroke ofthe lowering means from a raised, out of the way position to a loweredcontainer movement blocking position across the path of furthercontainers of said rows.

3. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers or the like, aplatform having a loading opening therein through which a load-group ofsuch containers may pass vertically, a trap door comprising a pluralityof normally raised and horizontal pivoted sections mounted on theplatform to receive and temporarily support such a loadgroup ofcontainers in a position directly above and in line with the loadingopening, said sections being swingable downwardly about horizontalpivotal axes to open a space between them through which the load-groupmay descend, a dead plate operatively associated with the trap door andan intermittently acting conveyor for the containers operable to feedcontainers over the dead plate onto said trap door, said trap door beingadapted to support thereon a load-group consisting of a plurality ofrows each containing a plurality of the containers when the trap doorsections are raised and being constructed and arranged to supportcontainers of difierent rows of said load-group at different levels.

4. The combination specified by claim 3 wherein said dead plate isformed and arranged to guide the containers of said different rowspassing thereover onto said trap door at said different levels.

5. In a machine for packing load-groups of fiber milk containers ofrectangular cross-sectional configuration, or the like, in cases, eachload-group consisting of such containers arranged in a close orderrectangular formation of four longitudinal rows and a plurality oftransverse rows, a platform provided with a loading opening appropriatefor such a load-group, means temporarily to undersupport the containersof such a load-group in a position above and in line with the loadingopening and so that the containers of the inner two longitudinal rows ofthe load-group formation are disposed with their upper end portionsprojecting above the corresponding portions of the containers of theouter longitudinal rows, a vertically movable load-group loweringmechanism disposed above said load-group and comprising normallydisengaged pivotally mounted depending individual gripper fingers forthe containers of the load-group, means to actuate said gripper fingersto cause them to engage their respective containers at the outer sidesof the upper end portions only and jointly to clamp the containers ofthe several longitudinal rows together for suspension as a unit from thelowering mechanism, means to actuate the means for undersupporting saidcontainers to remove undersupport therefrom and means to actuate thelowering mechanism to lower the load-group of containers through theloading opening to a waiting case at a station therebelow.

6. In a machine for forming containers of a plurality of parallel rowsinto a case load-group at one level and subsequently lowering the formedload-group to a waiting case therebelow, the combination of a temporaryundersupport for the load-group comprising a pair of normally raised andhorizontal pivoted trap-door sections openable downwardly to permit theload-group to be lowered therebetween, means to advance said pluralityof parallel rows of containers onto said temporary undersupport at oneedge thereof and on said undersupport toward the oppo site edge thereofso that the containers on the undersupport are under line pressures,movable container row detectors disposed in the paths of leadingcontainers of the several rows adjacent to said second named edge of theundersupport and stop means to limit movement of aseaaes said:.movabledetectors by saidileadingcontainers, said movement limiting meansbein'gconstructed and arranged torelease said movable detectorsforfurther movement to relieve residual line pressures on the containers ofthe formed load-group when the sections of said undersupport are openeddownwardly to permit lowering of the load-group. therebetween.

7. Ina machine of'the character described, a normally raised, downwardlyremovable temporary undersupporting means for a load-group ofcontainers, means to advance a plurality of parallel rows of thecontainers in close order formation by line pressures onto theundersupporting means, movable container row detectors disposed in thepaths ofthe leading containers'of said rows so asto belstruck and movedby the rows of containers on the undersupportingmeans during the finalpart of the advance of said rows to form the load group desired, andstop means to limit the movement of said container row detectors to stopthe advance of the container rows on said undersupporting means when theload-group has been formed thereon, said stop means being arranged torelease the detectors forfurther movement to relieve residual line'pressures on containers of the formed loadgroup when said:undersupporting means is removed downwardly to permit lowering of theload-group.

8. In a machine of the character described, a trap-door comprising apair of normally raised and horizontal,

pivoted sections adapted to receive and support a multirow load-group ofcontainers thereon and swingable downwardly to permit lowering of theload-group therebetween, means to advance parallel rows of thecontainers under line pressures onto the raised trap door sections oneof the pivoted sections of the trap door in relative positions such thatthey strike each other and limit pivotal movement of the detectors bysaid containers as the loadgroup is formed and are disengaged to releasethe tie tectors for further pivotal movement to relieve residual linepressures on the containers of the load-group when the trap doorsections are swung downwardly to permit lowering of the load-grouptherebetween.

9. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers or the like, aplatform having a loading opening therein through which a load-group ofsuch containers may pass vertically, a trap door comprising a pluralityof normally raised and horizontal pivoted sections mounted'on theplatform to receive and temporarily support a load-group consisting of aplurality of rows each containing a plurality of the containers so thatcontainers of different rows of said load-group are supported atdifferent levels, said load-group being supported in a position directlyabove and in line with the loading opening, said trap door sectionsbeing swingable downwardly about horizontal pivotal axes to open a spacebetween them through which the load-group may descend, a dead plateoperatively associated with the trap door and an intermittent actingconveyor for the containers operable to feed containers in said rowsover the dead plate onto said trap door, said dead plate being formedand arranged to guide the containers of said different rows passingthereover onto said trap door at said different levels, a verticallymovable load-group lowering mechanism normally occupying a relativelyraised position directly above the load-group on the trap door, saidlowering mechanism being operable to grip all the containers of saidload-group when the'trap door sections are raised so as to suspend saidload-group therefrom when the trap door sections are opened downwardlyand further operable to lower the suspended 1oad-group between the opentrap door sections and through the lo di g opening; nd a pl rali y ofpivoted load-group rowdetectors corresponding in number, with therowsrof said loadz-group and arranged to be actuated when said rowshave-been filled with containers on the trap door to initiate operationsof said load-group lowering mechanism.

10. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers of rectangularcross-sectional configuration, or the like, a trap door comprising apair of normally raisedand horizontal pivoted sections adapted tosupport thereon a loadgroup consisting of a plurality of longitudinaland a plurality of transverse rows of the containers pressed together ina close-order rectangular formation, said pivoted sections beingopenable downwardly to permit such a load-group to pass downwardlybetween them, and means to feed said plurality of longitudinal rows ofsaid containers onto said trap door when the sections thereof are raiseduntil suificient transverse rows of the containers are on the trap doorto form said load-group, said trap door sections being constructed andarranged so that the trap door when its sections are raised has alongitudinally extending middle portion adapted to support two adjacentlongitudinal rows of the containers at one level and a pair oflongitudinally extending further portions respectively located atopposite sides of the middle portion and each adapted .to support alongitudinal row of the containers at a lower level.

11. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers of rectangularcross-sectional configuration, or the like, a trap door comprising apair of normally raised and horizontal pivoted sectionsadapted tosupport thereon a loadgroup consisting of a plurality of longitudinaland a pinrality of transverse rows of the containers pressed together ina close-order rectangular formation, said pivoted sections beingopenable downwardly to permit such a load-group to pass downwardlybetween them, and means to feed said plurality of longitudinal rows ofsaid containers onto said'trap door when the sections thereof are raiseduntil sufiicient transverse rows of the containers are on the trap doorto form said load-group, said trap door sections being constructed andarranged so that the trap door when its sections are raised has alongitudinally extending middle portion adapted to support two adjacentlongitudinal rows of the containers at one level and a pair oflongitudinally extending further portions respectively located atopposite sides of the middle portion and each adapted to support alongitudinal row of the con-' tainers at a lower level, said containerfeeding means in cluding a dead plate 'operatively associated with thetrap door and having a higher level middleportion aligned with and atthe same level as the middle portion of the trap door sections and lowerlevel portions respectively located at opposite sides of the middleportion and aligned with the lower level portions of the trap doorsections.

12. In a machine for packing fiber milk containers of rectangularcross-sectional configuration, or the like,

a trap door comprising a pair of normally raised and horizontal pivotedsections adapted to support thereon a load-group consisting of aplurality of longitudinal and a plurality of transverse rows of thecontainers pressed together in a close-order rectangular formation, saidpivoted sections being openable downwardly to permit such a load-groupto pass downwardly between them, and means to feed said plurality oflongitudinal rows of said containers onto said trap door when thesections thereof are raised until sufiicient transverse rows of thecontainers 7 are on the trap door to form said load-group, said trapmiddle portion of the raised trap door sections and the lower levelfurther portions thereof respectively comprising higher and lower levelsets of transversely spaced aligned supporting fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent 18 Benoit Aug. 2, 1932Kimball et a1. Oct. 29, 1940 Thompson Sept. 22, 1942 Brown et al June15, 1954 Cox et a1. May 24, 1955

